Sermon Tone Analysis

ANNOUCEMENTS:

VERITAS 10 YEAR PARTY (OCT 7 6pm)

REFUGE FUNDRAISER

Welcome

We’re in a series discussing our rhythms at Veritas.

What does that mean?

HOW SHOULD A CHRISTIAN LIVE?! WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM US AS A CHURCH?!

This is important?

We said we are founded on the Gospel

We live in a world filled with chaos and confusion

I think this is primarily because there is on agreed upon AUTHORITY structure.

TRUTH is seen as relative.

Individuals are responsible for deciding what is important.

This is too much for any person to carry!

SO, chaos results… We need a grid… we need a foundation!

We need a “MAP OF MEANING.”

THINK ABOUT IT: (1) If you needed to get to St. Louis and you had no map, what would you do? (2) On top of that, what if you approached someone and asked how to get to St. Louis and they responded by saying, “St. Louis is whatever you want it to be, man...”

You’d just be confused.

That might sound like FREEDOM — but you’d just end up wondering aimlessly.

At the end of the day, we think not having boundaries is FREEDOM but it’s actually the worst kind of OPPRESSION.

OUR GRID IS THE GOSPEL!

2 weeks ago we reviewed our rhythm of WORSHIP.

colossians

We are made to worship God!

Last week, we reviewed our rhythm of Community!

We’re made to WORSHIP God in the context of a committed Christian community.

So if you missed the last few weeks, I encourage you to go back and listen to those on the website (veritascolumbus.com)

or on the APP.

Today, we’re looking at SERVICE!

Our third rhythm is Service.

So if you’re able, please stand with me for the reading of God’s Word.

Today we’re going to examine several things: (1) First, I think this text gives a good theological foundation for Service.

(2) Secondly, we’re going to examine the scope of our service and (3) Lastly, we will take a look at some practical considerations regarding service at Veritas and beyond.

THEOLOGY OF SERVICE

God is a God who Serves

This is extraordinary!

When we think of rulers, CEO’s, kings, bosses — what kind of people do we think of?

What typically characterizes individuals who have lots of power?

Often, power brings out the WORST in people.

If you struggle with something — and you want to know how to exaggerate it or make it worse… just come into a place of more power, influence, or importance!

POWER tends to highlight and magnify the shadow qualities of people’s character.

This is what is so fascinating then — to realize that GOD IS A GOD WHO SERVES!

this shouldn’t be something that we pass over

this is incredibly unique and GOOD!

God could’ve been a tyrant like so many other earthly rulers we’ve seen throughout history.

But this is not what we see in Scripture… we see a God who continually pursues a wretched people.

Particularly in ...

Theologians have referred to this emptying as KENOSIS.

kenosis theory: The theory that Christ gave up some his divine attributes while he was on earth as a man (from the Greek verb κενόω, G3033, which means “to empty”).

(26B.3)

Jesus, being God (always God), emptied himself.

Jesus takes human form… experiencing with it, the limitations of being human.

And Jesus takes the form of a servant!

A servant!

Of all things…

In this… God identifies with us.

“Walks in our shoes” as it were… This is significant.

Leads the writer of Hebrews to say...

God is, therefore, NOT out of touch with our struggles — because he has experienced our struggles.

He has been hungry, poor, alone, tired, week, wounded!

Jesus doesn’t stand far off and expect us to fix ourselves by ourselves!

Jesus draws near… Jesus prepares the way… Jesus patiently and graciously pursues us in our (a) weaknesses, in our (b) struggles, in our (c) failures

Jesus takes the form of a SERVANT!

How do we respond?

Because Jesus empties himself… he calls us to do the same.

Jesus sets the standard!

Jesus sets the bar and calls us to follow his example!

Jesus is reorganizing the way we are to live!

“You want life?!

You want peace?!

You want joy?!

You want purpose?! — HUMBLE YOURSELF.”

This is a different way of viewing the world… but it’s the right way.

It’s the way Jesus calls us to!

SELFISH AMBITION

Ambition isn’t always bad, but it’s bad when it’s ALL ABOUT YOU!

When you have a strong desire for personal success that is over and above your desire to please God and be in community with others — you are outside of God’s will for your life!

Because this is what it says in the BIBLE!

That is selfish ambition.

VAIN CONCEIT

pride!

ego!

I’m always thinking I am better than I am

People confess a lot of things, rarely do they confess pride — it’s such an insidious thing in us — we’re often so blind to it.

HUMILITY, COUNT OTHERS MORE SIGNIFICANT THAN YOU

This is such a fantastically large call to Action!

CS Lewis -said:

Probably all you will think about him is that he seemed a cheerful, intelligent chap who took a real interest in what you said to him.

“Do not imagine that if you meet a really humble man he will be what most people call 'humble' nowadays: he will not be a sort of greasy, smarmy person, who is always telling you that, of course, he is nobody.

Probably all you will think about him is that he seemed a cheerful, intelligent chap who took a real interest in what you said to him.

If you do dislike him it will be because you feel a little envious of anyone who seems to enjoy life so easily.

He will not be thinking about humility: he will not be thinking about himself at all.”

If you do dislike him it will be because you feel a little envious of anyone who seems to enjoy life so easily.

He will not be thinking about humility: he will not be thinking about himself at all.”

Most of our struggles come down to a lack of humility!

THE SCOPE OF SERVICE

BECAUSE GOD IS A GOD WHO SERVES:

encouragement in Christ (V. 1)

comfort

comfort (V.1)